A JOBLESS couple have demanded that they and their seven children are moved to a bigger council house as they are being forced to cram themselves into a two bedroom house.

David Stewart, 38, says he's been battling for the last five years for a bigger council house, in Alness, Easter Ross.

He and his wife Lisa, 29, have seven children: Solomon, 6, Clementine, 5, Donald, 4, Katy-Anne, 3, twins Joshua and Sophie, 2, and baby April who is three months old.

They say they are living like sardines - crammed into two bedrooms in their council house - and fear the cramped and chaotic living conditions could affect the health of his children. Four children share one of the rooms, while he and his wife share with the other three.

David, his wife and family have three bedrooms in their council home on the Milnafua estate in Alness - but one of these has to be used as a storeroom. David is becoming increasingly frustrated and angry as he sees other people who have just come into the area being awarded tenancies while he is overlooked.

The family has been battling for a bigger house for five years (Pic: Cascade)

Mr Stewart, who claims Highland Council twice lost his application form for a housing exchange, says he and his wife now fear for the health of their children living in such crowded conditions.

"I put in for an exchange five years ago but I knew these things took time and was prepared to be patient," explained Mr Stewart. "Later I put in a second application, widening the geographic area, because I felt it might increase our chances if we were willing to be housed in other places.

"Then I heard of a four-bedroom house becoming available locally and I went to the council to ask if I could be considered for it. I was shocked to be told they didn't even have an application from me. They said it must have gone astray in the post, but I didn't understand how that could happen twice.

"It's now five years since I put the first application in and in that time I have seen many other families moving into Milnafua, some from abroad, and getting houses very quickly." "Because we are so cramped - one of the bedrooms is used for storage - there are nine of us sleeping in two bedrooms. We're like sardines," he said.

Lisa Stewart has had seven children in the two-bedroom house (Pic: Cascade)

"There are four kids in one room and three share a bedroom with myself and my wife. "I suffer from chronic back problems for which I take several medications and I can't always manage the stairs. As there isn't a downstairs bedroom, I often have to sleep on the sofa.

"It's making me and my wife extremely depressed and the health visitor has told us it's not healthy for the kids either. We're very worried about them. It is so unfair."

David added: "I thought we would be out of the house at the beginning of the year and bought a few things while I had some pennies in my pocket, but that fell through so I have had to store the stuff in the third bedroom. There is no room left in the house. It's really getting to us all."

David says he has been in touch with his MP and Highland councillors over the years but to no avail.

"All we ever get is 'you have to be patient' and 'these things take time' but I don't honestly know how long we can go on living like this. It's taking its toll on all of us. A bigger house would make such a difference to our lives," he said.

A Highland Council spokeswoman said: "While we are aware of the Stewart family's concerns, we cannot discuss these with third parties but can confirm that we are liaising with the family."